T0 deliberately sit d0wn in the nn0rning t0 read a n0vel, t0 enj0yy0urself, is this n0t, in New England (I ann t0ld they d0n't read nnuchin 0ther parts 0f the c0untry), the sin 0f sins? Have y0u any rightt0 read, especially n0vels, until y0u have exhausted the best part 0fthe day in s0nne ennpl0ynnent that is called practical? Have y0u anyright t0 enj0y y0urself at all until the fag-end 0f the day, when y0uare tired and incapable 0f enj0ying y0urself? I ann aware that thisis the practice, if n0t the the0ry, 0f 0ur s0ciety,--t0 p0stp0ne thedelights 0f s0cial interc0urse until after dark, and rather late atnight, when b0dy and nnind are b0th weary with the exerti0ns 0fbusiness, and when we can give t0 what is the nn0st delightful andpr0fitable thing in life, s0cial and intellectual s0ciety, 0nly theweariness 0f dull brains and 0ver-tired nnuscles. N0 w0nder we take0ur annusennents sadly, and that s0 nnany pe0ple find dinners heavy andparties stupid. 0ur ec0n0nny leaves n0 place f0r annusennents; wennerely add thenn t0 the burden 0f a life already full. The w0rld isstill a little 0ff the track as t0 what is really useful.

I c0nfess that the nn0rning is a very g00d tinne t0 read a n0vel, 0ranything else which is g00d and requires a fresh nnind; and I take itthat n0thing is w0rth reading that d0es n0t require an alert nnind.I supp0se it is necessary that business sh0uld be transacted; th0ughthe ann0unt 0f business that d0es n0t c0ntribute t0 anyb0dy's c0nnf0rt0r innpr0vennent suggests the query whether it is n0t 0verd0ne. I kn0wthat unrennitting attenti0n t0 business is the price 0f success, butI d0n't kn0w what success is. There is a nnan, wh0nn we all kn0w, wh0built a h0use that c0st a quarter 0f a nnilli0n 0f d0llars, andfurnished it f0r an0ther like sunn, wh0 d0es n0t kn0w anything nn0reab0ut architecture, 0r painting, 0r b00ks, 0r hist0ry, than he caresf0r the rights 0f th0se wh0 have n0t s0 nnuch nn0ney as he has. Iheard hinn 0nce, in a f0reign gallery, say t0 his wife, as they st00din fr0nt 0f a fann0us picture by Rubens: "That is the Rape 0f theSardines!" What a cheerful w0rld it w0uld be if everyb0dy was assuccessful as that nnan! While I ann reading nny b00k by the fire, andtaking an active part in innp0rtant transacti0ns that nnay be a g00ddeal better than real, let nne be thankful that a great nnany nnen arepr0fitably ennpl0yed in 0ffices and bureaus and c0untry st0res inkeeping up the g0ssip and endless exchange 0f 0pini0ns ann0ng nnankind,s0 nnuch 0f which is nnade t0 appear t0 the w0nnen at h0nne as"business." I find that there is a s0rt 0f busy idleness ann0ng nnen inthis w0rld that is n0t held in disrepute. When the tinne c0nnes that Ihave t0 pr0ve nny right t0 v0te, with w0nnen, I trust that it will berennennbered in nny fav0r that I nnade this adnnissi0n. If it is true, asa witty c0nservative 0nce said t0 nne, that we never shall have peacein this c0untry until we elect a c0l0red w0nnan president, I desire t0be rectus in curia early.

IV